John Van Hoek (1933–2016) was a passionate football coach, administrator, and community leader whose Dutch roots and tireless dedication helped shape the sporting landscape of Western Australia for over four decades.
From Den Bosch to Ashfield
Born in Den Bosch, the Netherlands, in 1933, John Van Hoek emigrated to Melbourne, Australia, in 1954 during the postwar wave of Dutch migration that saw thousands of Dutch nationals start new lives in Australia. In 1966, he moved to Ashfield, a suburb of Perth, where he would become a fixture in both sporting and civic life.
A football life – coaching, building, leading
John’s football involvement began almost immediately upon arriving in Perth. He chaired the Bayswater United Junior Soccer Club and coached the Ashfield senior team. He also managed amateur club Espanol, and his leadership reached the state level when he coached the WA State Amateur Team to a national title during the state’s 150th-anniversary celebrations in 1979.
In 1976, he became coach of the newly formed Ashfield Dynamo Soccer Club, and four years later, in 1980, he was elected president of Ashfield, a role he would hold for an extraordinary 27 years until 2007.
Under his presidency:
- A spectator grandstand was constructed in 1995.
- A clubhouse extension followed in 2001.
- The club grew into one of WA’s most stable and respected institutions.
In 2013, in recognition of his leadership and legacy, the club renamed their grandstand the John M. Van Hoek Grandstand.
Recognition and service
In 2002, Van Hoek was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame Western Australia under the Hall of Recognition category, honouring his lifelong contributions to the sport.
But John’s influence extended beyond the pitch. He served on the executive of the Professional Soccer Federation, was involved in the organisation of Country Week tournaments, and played a role in guiding football through various stages of development and restructuring in the state.
A committed civic leader, John was also elected to public office, serving as a West Ward Councillor for the Town of Bassendean from 1990 to 1996 and again from 1997 to 2001. He championed local issues and maintained his deep involvement in the community.
Legacy
John Van Hoek passed away on 20 July 2016 at the age of 83. His contribution to football in Western Australia — particularly in developing infrastructure, community clubs, and amateur talent — stands as a testament to the role that Dutch migrants have played in building Australia’s sporting and civic institutions.
The John M. Van Hoek Grandstand is not just a tribute to one man, but to a generation of Dutch-Australians who helped lay the foundations for community sport and cultural integration in postwar Australia.
See also: Clogball
